IPS officer murder: Congress to observe 'bandh' in MP on March 13

Opposition Congress has called for a Madhya Pradesh bandh on March 13 in protest against the murder of IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh who was allegedly mowed down by a suspected mining mafia member in Morena district yesterday.

"Congress has decided to observe a state-wide Bandh on March 13 in protest against the killing of the IPS officer. We do not want martyrdom of the 30-year-old officer to be wasted as he had bravely fought the illegal mining mafia," the Congress unit chief Kantilal Bhuria and the opposition leader Ajay Singh told a joint press conference.

"What can one say about the law and order situation in the state where people are emboldened enough to eliminate an IPS officer," they said demanding resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over his "failure" to prevent the incident.

Seeking a CBI probe, Ajay said "it is for the state government to decide whether or not it wants a CBI inquiry into the killing".

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has already ordered a judicial probe into the murder of Singh who was crushed to death under wheels of a tractor-trolley at Banmore in Morena district yesterday.

"Congress had raised the issue of illegal mining during the discussion on the no-confidence motion during the winter session of the legislative assembly last year. Even at that time the government had not replied to the issues raised by the opposition," Ajay said.